Recently I was on a massive cruise ship with 3,000 passengers blitzing the great ports of the Mediterranean – and having lots of fun. No, I'm not suddenly abandoning my independent travel principles and becoming a huge proponent of cruising. But I am impressed by the economy, efficiency and popularity of this kind of travel ... and, to be honest, I enjoy cruising.

I'm the first to admit that cruising doesn't appeal to everyone. For some, it's anti-travel. For others, it's the perfect vacation.

On our ship, I met people who seemed to be having a great time ... most of them veterans of many cruises. I also met lots of budget-conscious travelers who told me that a cruise (which includes transportation, lodging and food for one discounted price) is a wonderful value.

Cruising might not be for everyone, but it's an economic, efficient and popular of mode of travel in Europe and beyond.(Photo11: Cameron Hewitt)

The per-day base cost for mainstream cruises beats independent travel by a mile. For a weeklong European cruise, a couple can pay as little as $100 per person per night – that's less than most hotel rooms in London or Paris. To link all the places on your own – with hotels, rail passes, boat tickets, taxi transfers, restaurants and so on – would add up fast. And you can't beat the convenience and efficiency of sleeping while you travel to your next destination.

There are some negatives. There's no denying that the cruising industry contributes to water, air and marine-noise pollution – but technology and consumer pressure are helping a bit. Environmental responsibility is such a hot topic that all the large cruise lines have website sections where you can evaluate their efforts. (Of course, this info is also intended to help market their cruises.)

And what about the impact on local economies and communities? Cruising can trample towns with sightseers who leave almost no money (since they eat, sleep and buy their tours on board). On the other hand, most of those communities view cruise ships as an economic boost – which explains why so many ports are investing in cruise-worthy piers and terminals.

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What happenes when tourism goes overboard? To identify places that are no longer very welcoming to tourists, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed dozens of tourist guides and news articles about those that have imposed or proposed restrictions on visitors. Click ahead to see which places made the list. 4FR / Getty Images

1. Skellig Michael, Ireland – The island where "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was filmed in 2015 has been growing in popularity ever since. Popular appeal, combined with an increase in boat permits, led to almost 17,000 visitors in 2017 and about 7,000 mid-May and mid-July 2018. The UNESCO World Heritage Site allows no more than 180 tourists per day. Priscilla Goh / Getty Images

2. Mogao Grottoes, China – The 1,600 year-old Mogao Grottoes are known for their Buddhist art and were China's first UNESCO site. The Library Cave uncovered there has been called "the world's greatest discovery of ancient Oriental culture." The maximum number of daily visitors is 6,000. During peak season, the daily limit is 10,000 every other day. 9508280@N07 / Flickr

3. Venice, Italy – The "City of Water" has adapted aggressive strategies to limit the number of tourists. The annual total has reached 30 million, whereas only about 50,000 people actually live in the city. Tourists visiting for the day (averaging as many as 70,000) may soon be charged an entrance fee of about $11.50. During peak times, tourists and locals can be separated, with visitors being redirected to popular places while some areas are only open to locals. Philippe Paternolli / Getty Images

4. Barcelona – Similar to Venice, one of Spain's most visited cities has been struggling with too many tourists for decades. The city of 1.7 million sees about 32 million tourists a year. No official limit on tourists has been imposed yet, but talk about such restrictions seems to never end. A 2017 law limited the number of beds available in hotels and rentals, imposed a moratorium on building new hotels, and stopped the issuing of licenses for new tourist apartments. querbeet / Getty Images

5. Amsterdam – Locals are not the only ones who say the city is flooded with tourists; visitors themselves agree their high number of about 20 million a year is a problem. A plan to ban Airbnbs in busy neighborhoods and to limit rentals to 30 days a year outside of them was revealed in May 2018. Passengers visiting on boats will no longer be allowed to disembark in the city center. The plan included a tourist tax hike to 7 percent, up from 6 percent in the city and 4 percent outside it. Other proposals include cruises paying a fee of about $9 per passenger starting this year. funky-data / Getty Images

6. Taj Mahal, Agra, India – The most famous mausoleum in the world has about 8 million visitors a year. India's government is limiting tourists to no more than three hours there in order to prevent overcrowding. Previously it was not uncommon for some people to spend an entire day there. The Taj Mahal easily sees about 60,000 tourists a day during the peak season. bjoern / Flickr

7. Zion National Park, Utah – The third most visited national park in the country attracts more than 4.5 million a year. (No. 1 is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and No. 2 is Grand Canyon.) The National Park Services (NPS), which manages all 60 national parks in the country, has been considering an admissions cap at Zion, which is famous for its red cliffs and narrow canyons. mihtiander / Getty Images

8. Boracay, Philippines – The famous Boracay island was closed for six months to give locals a chance to clean it up. The country's president had described it as a "cesspool" due to its inadequate sewage system. The island reopened in October 2018, but with the number of tourists way below the daily limit. Tourism is now limited to 6,000 visitors a day at least until October 2019, down from 19,000 before the shutdown. artran / Getty Images

9. Angkor Wat – The Cambodian government has said in its tourism management plan that restrictions on the numbers of tourists in certain parts of the site and on the time spent in the temples are necessary to preserve the complex, which dates back to the 12th century. More than 5 million people visit a year. In March 2017, it was decided that no more than 300 people will be allowed on Phnom Bakheng at one time, a very popular hill from which to watch the sunset over the ancient ruins. swissmediavision / Getty Images

10. Antarctica – The number of tourists rose by 17 percent – to almost 52,000 – in the year up to the 2017/2018 season. Ships with more than 500 passengers are not allowed to land while in Antarctic waters. The maximum number of visitors allowed ashore to see the scenery and wildlife is 100. A permit is required for all human activities, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. staphy / Getty Images

11. The Galapagos Islands – The Galapagos Islands are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, known for wildlife and marine species, and for inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The archipelago's popularity is hurting animal and plant life, which is why the authorities are imposing a limit for cruise passengers. They can't stay more than five days, and there will be no more than four landings in 14 days. stockcam / Getty Images

12. Isle of Skye, Scotland – The popular Scottish holiday destination has become too popular and is bursting at the seams. It is not uncommon for hotels to have to turn tourists away in the summer. Many travelers arrive without plans or accommodations and are unable to find a room as everything is full. Calls for a tourist tax have been growing. 24/7 Wall Street

13. Machu Picchu – About 3,800 people visit the ancient Inca citadel each day. Limits were imposed in 2017. Tourists to Machu Picchu, which is located almost 8,000 feet above sea level, have to leave within a specific time and cannot go back. In addition, all visitors must come with an official Machu Picchu guide or licensed tourist guide, and groups cannot include more than 16 people. sussexbirder / Flickr

14. Iceland – More than 2.3 million people visited Iceland in 2017, seven times the number of residents. Attempts to clamp down on tourists have been made in the past. A business tax on people renting their homes for more than three months of the year was proposed. Nearly 4,000 apartment listings on Airbnb in Iceland were created in a single month in 2016, 124 percent more than in 2015. 24/7 Wall Street

15. Bhutan – The landlocked Himalayan country has chosen to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to tourism. The country doesn't limit the number of visitors, but has adopted a "high value, low impact" policy, allowing only tourists who respect Bhutan's culture and values. All visitors must book their holiday through a Bhutanese tour operator or its international partners. Jean-Marie Hullot / Wikimedia Commons

16. Cinque Terra, Italy – The five seaside villages connected by cliffside trails on the Italian Riviera became so popular that plans were made in 2016 to close the area once the number of tourists reaches 1.5 million. That would be a reduction of 40 percent from 2015. A number of people would be allowed per day and once that number is reached, tourists would have to make plans to visit on the next available day. carterdayne / Getty Images

17. Santorini, Greece – Santorini, known for its buildings painted in stunning shades of blue and white , as well as sunsets, is one of the most popular islands in the world. More than 2 million people visit a year, often with over 10,000 tourists a day. Under new rules, there will be no more than 8,000 daily travelers from cruise ships allowed. Memitina / Getty Images

18. Dubrovnik, Croatia – Dubrovnik, which skyrocketed in popularity after "Game of Thrones" scenes were filmed there, is taking measures to reduce the number of day visitors from cruise ships. More than 280,000 visited between January and June of 2018. In 2017, 749,000 tourists visited. Now, there will be no more than 4,000 tourists allowed in the Old City at any time, even though the UNESCO recommendation is 8,000. leighcol / Getty Images

19. Lord Howe Island, Australia – The small island off the coast of Australia, only reached by boat or plane, has capped daily visits at 400. Locals recommend against people buying tickets without confirmed accommodation because fares may not be refundable. AGoyen / Getty Images

20. Bali, Indonesia – Bali, an island of 4.2 million people, attracted 5 million tourists in the first 10 months of 2018 alone. In September, the local government proposed a ban on tourists entering sacred parts of temples after several instances of unruly and disrespectful visitors desecrating holy sites. joyt / Getty Images

Conscientious travelers also want to consider issues of economic justice. Critics point out that the industry is built on rich tourists being served by crew members from poor countries. But I've talked to many people who work on cruise ships, and they've told me that the income they earn on a ship is far more than any employment prospects they have back home. And the remarkable loyalty of numerous crew members (working many, many years for the same cruise line) says a lot about this working arrangement.

There's also diversity to this style of travel. Cruising can accommodate a family with vastly different travel philosophies. It's possible for Mom to go to the museum, Dad to lie by the pool, Sally to go snorkeling, Bobby to go shopping, Grandma and Grandpa to take in a show ... and then all of them can have dinner together and swap stories about their perfect days. (Or, if they're really getting on each other's nerves, there's plenty of room on a big ship to spread out.)

Cruising is especially popular among retirees, particularly those with limited mobility. Cruising rescues you from packing up your bags and huffing to the train station every other day. Once on land, accessibility for wheelchairs and walkers can vary dramatically – though most cruise lines offer excursions specifically designed for those who don't get around well.

And yet, I still have reservations. Just as people trying to learn a language will do better by immersing themselves in that culture than by sitting in a classroom for a few hours, I believe that travelers in search of engaging, broadening experiences should eat, sleep and live Europe. Good or bad, cruising insulates you from Europe. If the taxi drivers in Naples are getting a little too pushy, you can simply retreat to the comfort of 24-hour room service, American sports on the TV, and a boatload of people who speak English. It's fun – but is it Europe?

Cruise staff prepare quality dishes that would cost a pretty penny in a top-end restaurant - but the food still pales compared with meals you can get in port, lovingly prepared with local recipes.(Photo11: Trish Feaster)

Cruising might not be for everyone. But neither is my style of travel. And at least cruising gets people (who might otherwise stay home) out interacting with the world. Many of the people I met on my last cruise were enjoying (and benefiting from) the chance to broaden their perspective through travel ... even if tethered to a big floating chunk of America.

Let's face it: Americans have the shortest vacations in the rich world. Some choose to dedicate their valuable time off to all-inclusive, resort-style vacations in Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean or Mexico: swimming pools, song-and-dance shows, shopping and all-you-can-eat buffets. Cruising lets you toggle back and forth between the floating American-style resort each evening and a different European adventure each day. If you know how to use your time on shore smartly, it can be the best of both worlds. Bon voyage!

Like the last two ships unveiled by Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Encore will feature a deck-top race course with electric go-karts. But the course on Encore will be bigger than those on its two predecessors. Norwegian Cruise Line

The main pool deck of Sky Princess has two deep-tank pools linked by sunken, communal seating. The pool deck also has more hot tubs than earlier vessels in the same Royal Class series. Princess Cruises

New on Sky Princess will be La Mer, which will offer casual French bistro-style dining with a modern twist. It's the creation of Emmanuel Renaut, whose Flocons de Sel restaurant has received three Michelin stars. Princess Cruises

MSC Cruises in 2019 will unveil two new ships. Among them will be MSC Grandiosa, the largest MSC Cruises ship ever at 182,700 tons. Grandiosa is a stretched version of MSC Cruises' 1-year-old MSC Meraviglia. Ivan Sarfatti